An independent study of Delaware’s education funding system has yielded recommendations for policymakers.

The study by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) was a part of the recent education funding litigation settlement, requiring an independent evaluation of the state’s education funding system.  The goal of the study was to analyze current education funding policies and make recommendations for improvements, with a focus on equity for all students. The work included a comprehensive analysis of existing funding, comparative analysis with other states, and feedback of stakeholders.

The study made the following recommendations:

• Increase state investment in public education.
• Distribute more resources according to student need.
• Improve funding transparency.
• Allow more flexibility in how districts use resources.
• Regularly reassess property values.
• Simplify the calculation of the local share provided to charter schools.
• Implement a weighted student funding state funding formula.

Secretary of Education Mark Holodick said state leaders will use the findings to inform discussions on how to revise an education funding system most consider outdated.

“We have known change is needed, but we didn’t want to move forward blindly. We needed an independent deep dive into what is working elsewhere, what our own strengths and needs are and ideas we can consider as a state to move forward,” he said. “We have an opportunity to build upon the numerous initiatives and investments of the current administration, most notably Opportunity Funding, increased early childhood spending, mental health support and significant compensation increases.”

Red Clay Consolidated School District Superintendent Dorrell Green also is a member of the Vision Coalition leadership team.

“Change is long overdue. We need more targeted state investment in our schools, particularly those that serve students from low-income families, students with disabilities and English learners,” Green said. “We need a system that better directs dollars based on student needs and gives districts more flexibility in how to spend state funding to meet those needs. We know change will not be easy or overnight, but this study gives us important information to move those conversations forward.”

Find more information, including the full report, online here.

Media contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006

A competitor readies a racer for the 2023 Junior Solar Sprint competition. Registration for next year’s Sprint is now open with a deadline of Friday, Jan. 12, 2024 for entering a team in the competition set for April 18 on the campus of Delaware State University in Dover. /DNREC photo

Annual Competition Tests Students’ STEM Skills, Creativity

Registration is open for the 2024 Junior Solar Sprint, a statewide competition for students in grades five through eight to build and race solar-powered model cars in a challenge of creativity, engineering and speed.

The annual competition is co-sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s (DNREC) Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy and the Delaware Technology Student Association (TSA).

The 2024 Junior Solar Sprint competition will take place April 18 on the campus of Delaware State University in Dover.

Middle schools across the state can register up to two teams of two to four students each. Registration is free, and the Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy provides participating schools with two starter kits, each including a solar panel, motor and wheels.

“The Junior Solar Sprint provides students with the opportunity to apply real-world problem-solving in a fun and educational atmosphere,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “Every year we are amazed by the creativity of the participating teams that spend months designing and building their solar-powered vehicles.”

Interested educators should visit de.gov/solarsprint for additional information on the 2024 event, including the registration form and guidelines. The deadline to register Junior Solar Sprint teams is Friday, Jan. 12, 2024.

Schools are not required to have a TSA chapter in order to participate. Additional questions can be directed via email to JamesW.Lee@delaware.gov or by phone at 302-735-3480.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy uses science, education, policy development and incentives to address Delaware’s climate, energy and coastal challenges. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Jim Lee, JamesW.Lee@delaware.gov

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Delaware FFA members from across the state brought home national awards from The Big E in Springfield, MA, last month.

The Big E is an annual event that begins on the second Friday after Labor Day and runs for 17 days. Eastern States Exposition is not owned by any specific individual or group and is organized as a not-for-profit, educational institution under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its governing body is a volunteer Board of Trustees consisting of distinguished civic, business and agricultural leaders from each of the six New England states.

During The Big E, Delaware FFA members competed in 16 Career and Leadership Development Events as well as the Agriscience Fair. The following Delaware FFA Chapters were in attendance:

• Appoquinimink FFA
• Delmar FFA
• Lake Forest FFA
• Middletown FFA
• Odessa FFA
• Redding Middle FFA
  Smyrna FFA
• Smyrna Middle FFA
• Sussex Central FFA
• William Penn FFA
• Woodbridge FFA

Multiple teams and individuals earned top five placings. To see a full list of the Delaware FFA results, click here: Delaware FFA Big E Results.

In addition to competing in Career and Leadership Development Events, three Delaware FFA members participated in the Regional Stars selection process.

Cole Murphy, Lake Forest FFA, was selected as the Eastern Regional Star Farmer.

Faith Hewes, Smyrna FFA, was selected as the Eastern Regional Star in Agriscience.

Roarie Glen-Russum, Smyrna FFA, was selected as a finalist for the Eastern Regional Star in Agricultural Placement.

Members who conducted Agriscience Fair projects were also recognized for their efforts. Sanaa McDonald, William Penn FFA was awarded the top prize. For the complete list of the Delaware FFA Results, click here: Delaware FFA Big E Results.

Delaware FFA is a leading Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) for students pursuing careers in agriculture, food, natural resources, and other related career fields. For more information, please visit the FFA web site at www.ffa.org or contact Dr. Bart Gill, Delaware FFA state advisor, at bart.gill@doe.k12.de.us.

The DIAA Board of Directors’ is pleased to announce the winners of the 2023 DIAA/Harry Roberts-Senior Scholar Athlete awards. The award is named in recognition and memory of Dr. Harry Roberts, former superintendent of the Caesar Rodney School District who served DIAA on several committees, most notably as chair of the DIAA Sportsmanship Committee for many years.

“We are honored to award this year’s winners for their athletic leadership, service and dedication to their academics. The commitment our student athletes dedicate to their academic achievements as well as their athletic achievements is a testament to the outstanding young men and women participating in DIAA sports. We wish all the award winners much success as they become leaders in the community and embark on the next chapter of their lives,” said Executive Director David L Baylor.

The awards are presented annually by the DIAA based on a student’s academic, athletic and leadership accomplishments.  DIAA has named Harry Roberts Senior Scholar-Athlete winners since 1999 to 137 scholarship recipients from 39 different member schools.

The 2022-2023 winners are:

Females:

First ($2,000): Abigail Cholewa, Caesar Rodney High School

Second ($1,500): Madeline Bissessar, Mount Pleasant High School

Third ($1,000): Lila Seiler, Newark Charter School

Males:

First ($2,000): Nathan Cho, Conrad School of Science

Second ($1,500): Isaac DeMaio, Delaware Military Academy

Third ($1,000):  Cameron Lawson, Caesar Rodney High School

For more information regarding DIAA , visit the DIAA website or follow DIAA on Twitter (@DIAA_Delaware), Instagram (diaa_de) or on Facebook (@DelawareInterscholasticAthleticAssociation).

Media contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us,302-735-4006

DNREC Award winners were recognized during Governor’s Day at the Fair by both Governor John Carney and Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long and by DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. Left to right: Lt. Gov. Hall-Long, Young Environmentalists Chris Runde and Spencer Tuxward, Gov. John Carney, Youth Fishing Tournament New Castle County winner Michael Hopkins, statewide and Sussex County winner Brody Spencer, Vedic Mukherjee (accepting his sister Iveena’s Young Environmentalist award), DNREC Secretary Garvin, and Kent County fishing tournament winner Bristol Brown. /DNREC photo

Three Delaware students from schools across the state were recognized with Young Environmentalists of the Year Awards. A program of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the awards were presented today by Governor John Carney and DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin to the students, ages 10 to 17, in front of a crowd of fairgoers at the Delaware State Fair. The leaders also presented trophies to the top anglers of the 2023 Youth Fishing Tournament.

“Every year, I look forward to meeting our Young Environmentalist award honorees. These amazing young people are truly today’s environmental leaders, showing the way to a better future for Delaware and for our planet. This year, we are recognizing students who are leading efforts in protecting marine habitat, recycling, and reducing plastics use,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “In addition, the top three young anglers from our annual Youth Fishing Tournament have discovered the joy of catching a fish – and experienced the meaningful conservation act of releasing their catch.”

The three 2023 Young Environmentalists of the Year recognized today are:

• Elementary School:
  Spencer Tuxward, age 10, of Wyoming, 4th grade, W. Reily Brown Elementary School, Dover
  As an active member of his school’s Eco-Team, Spencer is a role model for his fellow students, and is involved in recycling, feeding birds, growing vegetables in the school garden and promoting good stewardship of the school and grounds. Described as a “self-made environmentalist,” he also creates video presentations that reflect his love of nature. Spencer is especially interested in marine life, volunteering to rescue sea turtles and making and sharing videos about his work.
• Special Recognition:
  Chris Runde, age 17, of Milton,12th grade, Cape Henlopen High School, Lewes
  On his own initiative, to help his community learn more about recycling, Chris looked into options for recycling cell phones and other rechargeable devices with lithium-ion batteries. He found Redwood Materials, a company that produces anode and cathode components from recycled batteries, and they sent Chris the materials to host a recycling initiative he launched on April 22, Earth Day 2023. In one day, he collected more than 300 pounds of old batteries and rechargeable devices and plans to do more community collections.
• High School:
  Iveena Mukherjee, age 16, of Wilmington, 12th grade, Charter School of Wilmington
  Going into her senior year, Iveena is known for her “unwavering dedication to environmental conservation, advocacy and activism,” and has been recognized nationally and internationally, including honorable mention for the President’s Environmental Youth Award and a United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Volunteer Award. Described as “a leading voice in youth activism,” the young scientist is actively seeking solutions to mitigate climate impacts, such as exploring the potential of biochar and epoxy resin to reduce plastic use, as well as leading a team that earned funding to continue a project studying RECON, a sustainable building material for carbon sequestration. Iveena has also been an integral part in her school’s Science Olympiad team, as well as creating five workshops for Delaware’s annual Youth Environmental Summit (YES!).

Now in its 30th year, DNREC’s Young Environmentalist of the Year Awards program recognizes Delaware students whose actions have helped protect, restore or enhance our natural resources by initiating an innovative project, practicing environmental stewardship, increasing public awareness or demonstrating environmental ethics. More information about the program can be found at de.gov/youngenvironmentalists.

The 2023 Youth Fishing Tournament winners who were presented their trophies today are:

• Statewide and Sussex County winner Brody Spencer, age 11, of Dagsboro, took top honors by catching 8.52 pounds of fish in Ingrams Pond.
• Kent County winner Bristol Brown, age 10, of Lewes, came in second place statewide, catching 6.87 pounds of fish at Akridge Scout Reservation Pond, including the largest fish of the tournament, a 5.6-pound largemouth bass.
• New Castle County winner Michael Hopkins, age 8, of New Castle, took third place statewide, catching 3.47 pounds of fish at Lums Pond.

Established by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife and sponsored by the Delaware Natural Resources Police, the tournament introduces youth to the sport of fishing and teaches the catch-and-release approach to conservation. The 37th annual Youth Fishing Tournament was held June 3 at three locations, one in each county: Ingrams Pond in Sussex County, Akridge Scout Reservation in Kent County, and Lums Pond in New Castle County, with complete results here: Delaware Natural Resources Police Announce Winners of Youth Fishing Tournament.

More information about the annual tournament is available at de.gov/yft.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Joanna Wilson, joanna.wilson@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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